Monday, April 27, 2015

OMG this was the best one yet! The introduction of time travel to the mix, and the way the author handled it, was simply superb. I felt like I was in an episode of Doctor Who, a favorite series of mine to be sure.

There were new characters introduced, and the alter-ego of other characters revealed... but I cannot say more lest I spoil it for you. Simply know that even if you were slightly disenchanted by the previous novel as I was, this one takes it to 11!

As agents of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Eliza D. Braun and Wellington Books have faced their share of danger, blowing things up and barely escaping with their lives. But now, the nefarious plans of an evil doctor is set to bring the British Empire under his control, and with the help of the Queen, eliminate all the Ministry agents standing in the way. Can Eliza and Wellington survive when the entire Empire is out to get them?

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

This third book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series was a fun addition to the series, although I must admit that like other reviewers, I didn't like this one quite as much as the first two.

In this adventure, Eliza and Wellington set off for America to provide support to their sister office, the Office of the Supernatural and Metaphysical (OSM), for a case they are currently working. The Ministry's Doctor Sound assumes this will keep his two agents out of trouble for a little while since their last case got them both in a bit of hot water with the higher ups, but what starts out simply as mysteriously disappearing ships turns into something much, much bigger, and the agents are fighting for their lives.

Because Eliza and Welly spent a lot of time working with their American counterparts and not with each other, the spark that makes these characters so lovable was missing throughout a lot of this book. Eliza and Wild Bill just didn't jive in the same way Eliza and Wellington do. The same held true for Wellington and the American librarian Felicity. Despite this, everything worked out quite well in the end for the pair, and Eliza and Wellington actually made significant progress in their burgeoning relationship.

The series as a whole is wonderfully steampunk, with all manner of gadgets and gizmos an integral part of the story. If you love steampunk and secret agents, I strongly recommend you check this series out.